Good Morning
School is back in session, good for some, but it means the end of those relaxing summer days and back to a schedule.
Those
of you who exercise regularly don't need much in the way of motivation,
but it is always good to hear more reasons to keep exercising. Today's
topic, "The Unexpected Benefits of Exercise", may be things you are
experiencing and not realizing the reason!
If you need one
more reason to motivate yourself to be more physically active, you can
add the exercise induced hormone irisin to your list. In the past two
years scientists have discovered that a hormone called irisin—which
is released after moderate endurance aerobic activity—has the ability
to help maintain healthy body weight, improve cognition, and slow the
aging process. Regular exercise shores up our defenses and helps slow
the progressive decline that begins after 45. Working out, especially
between age 25 and 45, boosts the chemicals in the brain that support
and prevent degeneration of the hippo-campus, an important part of the
brain for memory and learning. It has also been shown that
cardio-vascular activity can create new brain cells as well as boost
their performance ie. working out makes you smarter. Research has linked
children’s brain development with their level of physical fitness.
I
think we all know that working out helps us deal with stress and it
releases endorphin's that make us feel happier, as well as increasing
our confidence, but which activity would you suppose would be the best
way to relieve anxiety? A bubble bath or a 20 minute jog? You may be
surprised to learn that exercise is the best way to relieve and and
prevent anxiety, as well as the added benefit that you will burn
calories at the same time.
Exercise also helps us
feel more relaxed, get more done and surprisingly boosts creativity, so
next time your creativity is lagging, hit the trails for a long walk or
run to refresh the body and the brain at the same time.
Finally by working out you can inspire others, whether it’s a pick-up game of soccer, a group class at the gym, or just a run with a friend, exercise rarely happens in a bubble. And that’s good news for all of us. Studies show that most people perform better on aerobic tests when paired up with a workout buddy . Pin it to inspiration or good old-fashioned competition, nobody wants to let the other person down. In fact, being part of a team is so powerful that it can actually raise athletes’ tolerances for pain . Even fitness beginners can inspire each other to push harder during a sweat session, so find a workout buddy and get moving!
Working out can have positive effects far beyond the
gym (and beach season). Gaining self-confidence, getting out of a funk,
and even thinking smarter are some of the motivations to take time for
exercise on a regular basis.
To read more on this topic follow the links:
If you enjoyed this topic, share with a friend.
Thurl Cockcroft
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